MitchW

Final day in San Francisco, and we hadn't yet hit our favorite breakfast place (airbnb makes breakfast out unnecessary). But up the hill we went; Potrero Hill, that is. To plow. Where one of these years I'm just gonna end up rolling down the hill and into the bay. These guys are great... Everything made to order. If you order a fruit salad, the fruit is cut à la minute. Some of the egg dishes are made with the eggs already whisked up in that cambro, but otherwise, it's all to order. Well sated after that breakfast, and with decent coffee. Our final dinner was another classic we wanted to get to: Our usual cocktails at the bar (in this case, a beautiful copper bar, standing only at dinner). This is my half of the Caesar, as big as most Caesar salads that are not split in two. Also, better than most Caesar salads, which is even more important. A classic Zuni app: Piccolo fritto, with beautifully fried vegetables. I didn't get a picture of Sig Eater's main, which I'm pretty sure was the gnocchi. I didn't get a taste, either! My rabbit loin, stuffed with prosciutto, sage and fried shallots was spectacular. The potatoes were butter. And the carrots tasted like...carrots! We sure do like this style of food. Nothing too fancy, just good ingredients handled well.

Alejandro Escovedo (with James Mastro) at Bowery Ballroom Sunday night. I like the amps, too.

One of the first words I tried! They really have a problem with many food terms.

Roast chicken like Marcella says (with a lemon or two inside). This chicken was pre-salted and rested for 48 hours prior to roasting - makes a big difference.

Hamburger America's investors are probably happy.

Shrimp cocktail salad, I guess. Followed by crab cakes and asparagus.

Back when we once in a while frequented The Wayland, I remember drinking reasonably priced Manhattans at happy hour.

Blurry first course: With a mayo/vinaigrette dipping sauce. Main course: Wild gulf shrimp, ramps, hot cherry peppers with linguini.

Probably some lousy lawyers, too.

Toss.

Rest In Hell.

I'm sorry we missed going to Le B this year for our big birthday/anniversary stuff in February. Gonna try to make up for that a little later in the year.

Caesar salad. Broccoli rabe. Spaghetti and meatballs.

Reminding me that we need to use our membership more!

P Oh, Karma is a cat.

Has Chang allowed them to use the term "Hot Sauce" ?

Some like the narratives; other like to see how their bets are faring.

I was trying to explain this to a friend, to no avail. But, I think we're good here now.

I guess this was pre-gaming also, though it may have been served during the middle of the first semi: Potatoes, par baked with onions, shallots, pimentón, saffron and olive oil. Topped with Long Island Striped Bass (from the freezer), tomatoes, Spanish olives, ramps, and more olive oil. Back into the oven. Checked at 15 minutes, they still needed another 5 (these were thick hunks of fish). Very good, if I do say so muself.

When we heard the news of La Ciccia's imminent closure and purchase by a South Bay restaurant group, none of us could have been happy. But...start spreading the news...that deal (with the restaurant group) fell through, La Ciccia was purchased by a local realtor and long-time La Ciccia neighbor/diner, and it certainly is none the worse for wear. Much of the staff remains; as a matter of fact, we recognized our waitress as having served us on a previous trip and she confirmed she'd been there "for years." Also, when was the last time you had a waitperson take an entire table's order (there were four of us), apps, primis, secondos, split portions, etc. etc. without writing a thing down, and EVERYTHING WAS DELIVERED TO THE RIGHT PERSON, IN THE RIGHT ORDER! That alone was worth the price of admission. Let's get down to it...remember, in the old days, the request was no photos, no cell phones, etc. etc., and we had to sneak them in. Now, let's just say that rule is a little looser. I don't have to tell you what this is: Just know that it remains as simple, funky and as delicious as ever, even as bottarga seems to appear more and more on plates around this town (Cervo's uses it - a lot!). Then there's the classic roasted Monterey small squid. Tender bodies, tasty tentacles, oceanic - and if I recall correctly, quite spicy. Yes, there was a pasta special (maybe even two?). Yes, it had Dungeness crab. Yes, I ordered it, and did not share. Another favorite: Prawns for days, cooked just right. And for our table partners, they needed meat evidently... So they had, and didn't share either, the lamb loin. We took the bus here (standing on a crowded bus as it cruises up, through and around the Castro and Noe Valley is a little challenging). So I needed a drink, and we had arrived early. There is nothing nearby where one might have a drink. Unless, like me, you're a classic degenerate, and buy two beers at a nearby butcher shop (which looked great, by the way) and drink them on the bench at the bus stop in front of La Ciccia. That one, right there. COMP DISCLOSURE: Glasses of dessert wine all around. And maybe a dessert or two.

What a difference a halftime makes.

That was a bad one! Studied that in earthquake/environmental geology class I was taking at San Jose State!

A good 20 seconds up here on 15th floor. I heard stuff rattling around (like my shower doors) and thought...Man, it's windy! I'm thinking the last one I felt here was like 2011 or 2013 - much more of a sharp jolt. None of them at all like the ones I experienced out in California. Loma Prieta I saw the ground waving, which was...interesting.

Oy.

I Had not only my own artery, but my wife’s as well.